Pump for propelling pellets into oil wells for treating the same



l April 3o, 1957 PUMP FOR PROPEI'JLING PELLETS INTO E N JoNE s 2,790,500

OIL. WELLS FOR TREATING THE SAME Filed March 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward N. Jones INVENTOR.

April 30, 1957 E. N. JoNEs 2,790,500

PUMP FOR PROPELLING PELLETS INTO OIL WELLS FOR TREATING THE SAME Filed March 24, 1954 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward Al. Jones INVENTOR.-

BY ,n l W# PUMP FOR PRDPELLING PELLETS INTO OIL y WELLS FOR TREATING THE SAME The present invention relates to a`means for introduc-V ing oil well tubing treating material in the form of dry pellets into the casing annulus of an oil well through the welll head connections.

The primary object of the invention is to provide av means for force pumping dry, scale and corrosion treating pellets into the side entrances of the Christmas tree of the well which will propel the pellets into the casing annulus under high pressures without interrupting the ow of the well. Y

A highly important object of the invention is in the provision of a dry treating pellet propelling mechanism to be attached to the well head connections wherein the pellets are maintained under well pressure at all times prior to their propulsion into the casing annulus or the well tubing.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a pump assembly for propelling the pellets including a pellet injecting barrel and propulsion mechanism which initially seats lightly against the pellets to be injected while moving the pellet forwardly through the injection barrel, than seats progressively more forcibly against the pellet prior to releasing the pellet to aord thel necessary impetus to cast the pellet into the well casing annulus.

Yet another object of the invention ancillary to the preceding object is the provision of a pellet ejection assembly including a pellet reservoir which will release pellets singly into the ejection barrel whereby the balls or pellets are individually released into the casing annulus.

These together with other ,objects and advantages and shown in cross section for clarity of'detail; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the pump injection barrel disclosing the manner in which the pellet propulsion mechanism is compressively seated against a pellet to be injected;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 disclosingthe pellet being discharged from the injection barrel by the.

propulsion mechanism;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View of a portion vof theinjection barrel taken substantially along section line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the pellet propulsion mechanism per se; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of a well head connection on the Christmas tree with parts being ied States Patent 2,790,500 Patented Apr. 30, 195.7y

In Figure 1 is shown a typical installation of the ICC ' and ball ejecting mechanism constituting the present inventionfon a producing well. In this gure the well casing 10 is shown extendingv abovethe ground level with the well head connections being applied thereto inA the form of the Christmas tree 12. To the side opening well head connection 14 of the` Christmas tree 12 lead' ing into the casing annulus 18 (note Figure'7).` the pump lconstruction-20 constituting the present invention is attached. 4.

piston Vtype andji's designatednby thenumeral 2,2.Y Air Alustrated in Figures 2 to 6.

supplyline 24 leads from the pump bodyf22 through a suitable pressure regulator' 26 into` theV well head'itself whereby the pumpmay be actuated directlybythe pres-l I sure of the well gases. The pump mechanism 20 includes' a pellet vinjecting assembly 28..attaching the [pump body tothe well head connectionlt.y v

j The manner of injection of the treating pellets into the casing annulus 18 by the pumping mechanism 20 is il- In Figure 2, the pump body 22 is shown with a portion cut-away to disclose theV piston 30 slidablyand reciprocably disposed therein, the piston'30 being reciprocated by means of the pressurized gas passing through the line 24 into thepump body. A suitable valve arrangement is provided within the pump body 22 for alternatelyapplying pressure to opposite faces ofthe piston 30. Although the pump valve assembly is not shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this mechanism is conventional Vas is the pump body itself and except for its utility inv the combination is not significant to the present inven-v tion. The piston 30 is provided with a piston rod 32 projecting reciprocably through one end of the pump body 22. s

The ball Vinjection assembly 28 includes "an injection barrel 34suitably coupled at one end to the end of the pump body 22 throughwhich the piston yrod 32 pro-r jects., As shown, this coupling is vin the nature of the ange coupling 36 in the embodiment shown. Thebarrel 34 at its outer end is provided with a longitudinal bore 38 through which the-piston rod y32 extends. f Suitable packing rings 40 are provided in grooves surroundingthe bore 38 and the lubrication chamber 42 likewise opens into the bore'38. Lubrication supply reservoir 43-'opens AThe counterbore 44 opens into an enlarged pellet receivmechanism per se with certain parts being brokenaway f pellets into the casing annulus of the welL ing chamber 46 withinthe barrel 34 which chamber in turn opens into a tubular end portion 48 Vof the injection barrel 34. Y The end of the tubular section 48 is provided with external threads 50 for coup1ingthe'same to the well head connection 14` of the Christmas tree whereby the injection barrel upon opening of the Christmas tree valve 52 will be maintained under the welll pressure. In this connection, it is to be noted that the surface area of the piston 30 is considerably greater than the surface area -ofthe head-45 at the end of thepiston rod l 32 whereby the pressure to be exerted against the piston 30 may Abe considerably less than the well pressure to 1 drive the head 45 forwardlyA Within the injection barrel d, 34. This is of course important when it is considered that the well head pressure may be anywhere from 17,0700

to 10,000 lbs.

arcaico disposed forwardly of and remote from the head 4S and cup 58 is secured to this end. A short, axially extending rod 60 projects from the forward end of the head 4S terminating intermediate the ends of the rcoil spring When the pump piston-30 is in its retracted position, the coil spring'54 is expanded within the counterbore 44 and theY cup 58.seats adjacent one end jof the pellet receiving chamber 46 n the injection barrel 3 4. yIn Figure 2, it will be seen that the pellet receiving chamber` 46 is of l`a size suflicient to receive only one pellet 62 at a time. v

Within thetubular portion48 of thebarrel 34, commu nicating with the opposite side or end of thepellet receiving'chamber 46'are` mounted a pluralityofcircnmf ferentiallyspaced Spring c1ips,64 which; remis? theressage through A this tuhularfportion -ofthe ibarrel(1 A pellet reservoir 6 6 extends vertically from fthe 'iniectiqn barrel .'flir'ltermsdiate theends ,thereof and @Pelis vinte tliepellet receiving chamber 4 6. Cap 68, ordinarily The spring continues to compress until the position shown in Figure 3 is reached within .the short, extending plunging rod 60 contacts the .back face of the cup 58 thereby spreading out the clips 64 andvpressing the pellet 62 therethrough. As the pellet is pressed through the restricting clips 64, the spring 5.4 expands and serves to propel the ball or pellet 62 through the well head connection 14 into thel casing annulus 18 between the casing 10 and the well tubing 70 as shown in Figure 7.

With this propulsionmethod, the ball is tirst lightly vent any sudden striking of the pellet ywlglieh would tend Vto break up or fracture the pellet. ,Furthennasthe head 45, spring 54 ,andcupjSS move through the pellet receiving chamber 46, additional pellets arepreventedfrom euteringthe chamber 48 during Athis"movementsincejthe chamber is blocked olf vby theV aforementioned propulsion elements whereby a second'pellet cannot enternthe chainber until the piston rod 3 2 is-'again retracted f back into the .counterbore 44 its full distance as is l*shown in Figure '2.

In order to facilitate supplyingthe reservoir 66, pressure reliefevalve 7 2`is provided inthe reservoir Wall. To resupply .the vreservoir therefore, valve/S2 may be turned to block the passagethrough the-well-head connection 14, pressure reliefvalve 72 opened to exhaust the pressure from within the injection assembly 28 andthe cap 68 then removed and the reservoir 66 refilled with pellets.

As shown in the drawings, the pellets 62 are preferably in spherical form although they maybe oval, oblong or otherwise shaped, the primary consideration being that they be enabled to makethe acuteangled turnsnecessaiy in injecting them through thewell Vhead connections .whereby theynmayjbe introduced into ythe well casing annulus or well tubing for the treatment of the tubing against `scale and corrosion ywithout interruption of the ilow from lthe well. f

The pellets may becomposedof any convenntionaltreatf ing agent; however, it is preferred that the treating materials bc formed of fthe'compositionset forth Viii/ Patent No. 2,65 8,036 for Composition for Preventing Deposition and Corrosion in Oil Well Equipment, issued ,on November .3, 1953 t .Clark l2- Cars andmyself.

'from the -foreggingL the icnnstruction and operation., of

the fii'iewill bereaiilyunderstcqd and @namespacetouched by the cup 58 with' the pressure being progres- .40

sively applied as the head is moved forwardly to pre- 4 tion is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerus modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of th appended claims. Y

What is claimed as new is as follows: Y 1.- pminpr construction 'forzdispensing treating pellets into the casing annulu's of an oil well comprising a pump and a pellet injection assembly f'orvinjecting pellets into the casing annuliis through the side of Ya Christmas .'tree, saidv pump includingia Ybody having-a piston rod extending reciprocablythrough onel end thereof, said injection assembly being'attac'hed to said one end and including a pellet. injection barrel guidingly receiving said piston rod, means on said barrel for attaching the same to aportion of a Y,Christmas Ytree communicating with the i casingv annuliisjmens'in' said barrel restricting the passage of apellet therethrough, and means fon said pistou rod for propelling a pellet through the barrel, said barrel having an axial bore through one vend thereoiand a counterbore communicating therewith, said barrel having a tubular passage openinginto the otherend thereof and a pellet'receiving chamber communicating said tubular passage and said counterbore, said pellet propelling means normally seating in said counter-bore, said piston rod ,being guidingly received in said bore, said propelling means including a head Von said piston rod seating within said c ounterbore, resilient means on said head and extending toward saidpellet receiving chamber, a pellet engaging element on saidresilientvmeans for ejecting a pellet from said receiving chamber through said tubular barrel. 2. A pump construction for dispensing treating pellets intothe casingannulus of an oil well comprising a pump andra pellet'injection assembly for injecting pellets into the c as'ing annulus through the `side of a Christmas tree,

said pump including a body having apistonrod extend- Aing reciprocablythroughoneend thereof, said injection assembly being attached to said' one ,end and including a pelletinjection,barrelguidingly Vreceiving said piston rod, meransv'on saidfharrel for attaching thersame to a portion of?- Christmas tree communicating with the casing annulus, means in said barrel restrictingthe passage of a pellet therethrough, and means 4on said piston rod for propelling a pelle'tl'through the barrel, said barrel having an axial bore through one end thereof vand a counterbore ,Communicating therewith, said barrel having a .tubular passage opening'into'the other end thereof and a pellet receivingchainber communicating said tubularrpassage and said countenbore, said pellet propelling means normally seating inlsa'id counter-bore, said .piston rod being guidingly receivedin said bore, said propelling means includinga head onwsaid piston rod seating within said counteibore, resilient means onw said head `and extending toward said pelletireceivin'g chamber, a pellet engaging element on saidresilient means for ejecting a .pellet from y said receiving chamber through said tubularwbarrel, a pellet reservoir :opening into said pellet receiving chamber, said propelling frnechan'ism blocking passagerfrom the reservoir4 to'the chamber during the. ejection of a pellet from the chamber.VVV

3. A' pump construction for dispensing treating pellets into the/casing annulusof an Aoil'vvll comprising a pump and a pellet" injection assemblylfor injecting pellets into the 'casing annulus through the side of ya Christmastree, said pump including abody having a piston rod `extending reciprocably thronghone end'thereof, said injection assembly being attached to said one end and including a pellet injection barrel guidingly receiving said piston rod,

. means on said balgrel fory attaching thesame to a portion an arial bore through one end thereof and a counterbore communicating therewith, said barrel having a tubular passage opening into the otherend thereof and a pellet receiving chamber communicating said tubular passage and said counterbore, said pellet propelling means normally seating in said counter-bore, said piston rod being guidingly received in said bore, said propelling means including a head on said piston rod seating within said counterbore, resilient means on said head and extending toward said pellet receiving chamber, a pellet engaging element on said resilient means for ejecting a pellet from said receiving chamber through said tubular barrel, a pellet reservoir opening into said pellet receiving chamber, said propelling mechanism blocking passage from the reservoir to the chamber during the ejection of a pellet from the chamber, said barrel restricting means being mounted Within said tubular passage adjacent said pellet receiving chamber and engaging a pellet upon ejection from the chamber causing said resilient means to compress as a pellet is pressed through the restriction into the tubular passage.

4. A pump construction for dispensing treating pellets into the casing annulus of an oil well comprising a pump and a pellet injection assembly for injecting pellets into the casing annulus through the side of a Christmas tree, said pump including a body having a piston rod extending reciprocably through one end thereof, said injection assembly being attached to said one end and including a pellet injection barrel guidingly receiving said piston rod, means on said barrel for attaching the same to a portion of a Christmas tree communicating with the casing annulus, means in said barrel restricting the passage of a pellet therethrough, and means on said piston rod for propelling a pellet through the barrel, said propelling means including a head on said piston rod seating within said counterbore, resilient means on said head extending toward said passage restricting means, and a pellet engaging element on said resilient means for ejecting a pellet from said barrel.

5. A pump construction for discharging treating pellets into the casing annulus of an oil well comprising a pump and a pellet injecting assembly for injecting pellets into the casing annulus, said pump having a piston rod extending reciprocably through one end thereof, said pellet injecting assembly being attached to said one end and including a pellet injection barrel into which said rod projects, said barrel having a pellet receiving chamber and an open discharge end, resilient means in said barrel between said discharge end and said chamber restricting passage of a pellet through said discharge end, and means connected to said piston rod for propelling pellets from said receiving chamber through said discharge end, said means including a resilient extension on said rod having a pellet engaging element thereon adapted to compress While forcing a pellet through said resilient passage restricting means.

6. A system for dispensing corrosion preventing pellets and for delivering them into the casing annulus of an oil Well, comprising a pellet injection assembly attached to an oil well Christmas tree and including an injector barrel provided with a tubular end portion joined at one side to an opening in the Christmas tree and thereby communicating with the casing annulus of the oil well, and further provided with a pellet receiving chamber and with a counterbore leading from the pellet receiving chamber and having a closed end, a cup applied against a pellet to be injected into the casing annulus, a head reciprocable within the counterbore, said head being resiliently connected with said cup and carrying a push rod coming into contact with said cup only after the head has moved to a predetermined distance within the said counterbore, a piston operated by pressure uid, connected with a piston rod passing through the closed end of the counterbore and connected with the said head, a resistance means holding the pellet within said tubular endpiece, when pushed by the cup, said push rod when reaching the cup overcoming the resistance of the resistance means and pushing the pellet into the annulus casing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,583 Eilerts Nov. 18, 1952 1,834,063 King et al Dec. 1, 1931 1,920,040 Hooydonk July 25, 1933 2,163,436 Raymond et al June 20, 1939 2,642,268 Armentrout June 16, 1953 2,654,436 Carlisle et al Oct. 6, 1953 2,669,936 Elkins et al Feb. 23, 1954 

